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Get Prepared

Team Documents

Race Day Guide

Your team will receive printed copies of the Race Day Guide at Packet Pickup.

Rule Book

This is the mother lode. From the essential to the obscure, the Rule Book contains everything you need to know about the Market to Market Relay. All teams are to download a copy for their team vehicle.

Race Brief

This is your at-a-glance overview of the most important information in preparing for race day. Of course, the Race Guide and Rule Book reign supreme, but this is a great primer for all teammates to look over race week.

Packet Pickup

Your team’s packet will be available at the location you request when you register online. Only the captain or one team representative needs to attend packet pickup. If you can’t make it to advanced packet pick-up, be sure to add extra arrival time to pickup your packet on race day.

Advanced Pickup

Thursday 5.9.2024
Des Moines | 4 PM – 7 PM

 

The Foundry (at Valley Junction)
111 S 11th Street, Suite 100
West Des Moines, IA 50265

Friday 5.10.2024
Jefferson | 4 PM – 7 PM

 

Greene County Courthouse | Town Square
114 North Chestnut Street
Jefferson, IA 50129

Race Day Pickup

Saturday, May 11, 2024

Jefferson | Start Line | Opens at 4:30 AM

Greene County Courthouse | Town Square
114 North Chestnut Street
Jefferson, IA 50129

Starting Waves

The Market to Market® Relay Iowa will feature teams from across the Midwest, starting in different starting waves leaving from Jefferson, Iowa. Waves will begin at 5:00 am and leave every 30 minutes.

When will teams be assigned to a Starting Wave?
Teams will receive their starting wave 20 days prior to race day and will be notified via email. We assign teams to a starting wave after the Final Roster deadline. Hang in there, we’re just as excited as you!

Why Is my team in this Starting Wave?
Starting waves are structured to maximize your fun and safety for all teams on race day. Once your start wave is locked into position, changes are not possible. Teams are placed in waves based upon the goal of your team reaching the finish line by 8:30 pm, while maximizing your fun. At time of registration, teams have the option to register for a VIP team to choose their starting wave. This is a limited option on a first-come first-serve basis available at the time of registration.

Note: Teams are not placed slowest to fastest and we are confident your team will finish prior to 8:30 pm. Have fun. Still curious how it works? Learn more on the advanced computer program that Don't Panic Labs created to put teams into a starting wave.

 

Relay Training Plans

Pick the plan best for you, and share with your teammates!

Contests

Get your creative juices flowing and go for the glory of winning one of the team contests. Go epic with your costumes, trick out your team vehicle and then pull it all together with a catchy team name. Be the team that everyone remembers!

Best Team Costume Contest

The key to victory is wearing your costume all day long. The more elaborate and ridiculous the better! You must get your team photo taken at the start line to enter. See the race guide for full rules.

Best Decorated Vehicle

To win, you’ll want your vehicle to stand out in a crowd. Pro tip: Theme your vehicle with your costumes for an unstoppable combination! Remember to upload a picture of your vehicle to Instagram using the #m2mrelaybestvan hashtag.

Best Team Name

It’s up to your peers. The wackier and more creative, the better!

Contest rules are outlined in the Race Day Guide. Winners get a prize pack and an automatic invitation into next year’s race.

FAQs

1. How it Works

The Market to Market® Relay Iowa is a team running relay from Jefferson to Des Moines, covering 70+ miles over 17 stages on a scenic and varied course. Join 6, 7, or 8 of your closest pals, hop in a van, run, rest and repeat. The course follows the Raccoon River Valley Trail System, paved streets, and gravel back roads through a diverse and scenic slice of west central Iowa. Combine the running with outrageous costumes, memorable van rides, and a lively Post-Race Shindig & Expo in downtown Des Moines and it all adds up to 1 unforgettable day.

2. Team Size

Choose to run with a 6, 7 or 8-person team.

3. Distance

Each runner completes 2-3 legs of varying difficulty. Most legs range from 3 to 6 miles, so most runners average between 9 to 15 total miles for the day. You got this!

4. Vehicles

All teams are allowed 1 vehicle per team. Most teams go with a van, mini-van or SUV. Get creative and win the Best Decorated Vehicle contest!

5. Captains

Team captains are superheroes in disguise! Captains register, assemble and manage their team, and make sure everyone gets all the essential race details. Be one!

6. Already Registered?
If your team is already registered, captains can manage their team and runners can join or edit their profile by logging into the Roster Tool.

Teammate? How Do I Join A Team? If your team captain has already started a team. The easiest way to join a team is to go to the My Team page and select Join A Team and look for your team. Once you find your team you will need to join. Note: You will need to register for a RunSignUp account.

Captain? How Do I Invite A Teammate? Our Roster Tool is on the registration platform of a third party site called RunSignUp. There are several ways to get a team to join here are a few.

  1. Send an email to a teammate directly to your team page using RunSignUp. How to Guide
  2. Text your teammate with your team name and have them go to the My Team page and click on Join A Team then select your team to join.

Captain? How Do I Manage My Team Our Roster Tool is on the registration platform of a third party site called RunSignUp. There are several ways to navigate to RunSignUp and manage your team.

  1. Sign into your profile at RunSignUp.com/Profile. Then make sure you have the correct person selected.
  2. Under “Upcoming Events” find your event and select “Manage Registration” next to the gear icon.  
  3. Depending on what you would like to view or edit, here is a RunSignUp “How to Manage Your Team” help article to help you navigate to your team details and view your team roster.
7. Can My Team Defer To Next Year?

Yes! As outlined in the race policies, your team can defer to next year’s race.

 

How a captain can defer their team to next year

    • Captains will sign into their profile at RunSignUp.com/Profile. Then make sure you have the correct person selected.
    • Select the “Upcoming Events” tab > Select your event > Select “Manage Registration” > Select “Defer Registration”.
    • Complete the “Defer Registration” process. Once completed, your deferred registration will now appear under “My Deferrals”. We will be in touch with you next year on how to “claim” your deferred registration once the new race opens up.
8. Need More Info?

We’ve got you covered. All the race info you could ever want is available in the Team Documents.

Travel Info

Where to Stay | Jefferson, Iowa

Stay Friday night at the start line town of Jefferson, Iowa. This charming village in central Iowa has a good selection of restaurants and places to stay. You won’t regret the decision to stay the night in Jefferson. Maximize your sleep and avoid the worry of making it to the start line on time. The town is looking forward to hosting you and your teammates.

Jefferson Hotels

Super 8 Jefferson | 515-386-2464
Cobblestone Hotel & Suites | 515-386-3535
Redwood Motel | 515-386-3116

Near Jefferson Hotels

The Port on Lake Panorama | 641-755-4240 | 22 Miles from Start Line
Lake Panorama National Inn & Townhomes | 800-879-1917 | 22 Miles from Start Line
Farmhouse Life Cabin | 515-229-6988 | 16 Miles from Start Line

Vehicle Info

There are a limited number of vans available for rent in the Des Moines area. We recommend securing your vehicle as soon as possible. Do not assume that a rental will be available. Consider all options when looking for a team vehicle including renting, borrowing, purchasing or searching out of state. Teams with 7 total runners will have the easiest time securing a team vehicle.

Vehicle Rules

  • Regular teams may only have one vehicle
  • Teams with a faster than 20 minute average 5k time will qualify for 2 vehicles
  • Team vehicles must be less than seven feet in width and less than 20 feet in length
  • Large vans, mini-vans and SUV’s are allowed
  • No RVs, mini-buses, trailers or limos are allowed
  • All passengers must have access to a safety belt

Renting in Des Moines

Rent A Van
2701 6th Avenue, Des Moines
515-444-9987

Avis Vehicle Rental
5800 Fleur Drive, Des Moines, IA
(515) 256-5623

Advantage Rent A Car
5800 Fleur Drive, Des Moines, IA
(515) 256-5840

Budget Vehicle Rental
1901 Army Post Road, Des Moines, IA
(515) 287-6014

Enterprise Rent-A-Car
5800 Fleur Drive, Des Moines, IA
(515) 256-5665

Gabus Ford
4545 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines, IA 50310
(515) 270-0707

Hertz Vehicle Rental
4224 Merle Hay Drive, Des Moines, IA
(515) 270-3828

National Vehicle Rental
5800 Fleur Drive, Des Moines, IA
(515) 256-5353

Thrifty Vehicle Rental
5800 Fleur Drive, Des Moines, IA
(800) 847-4389